Whiter than white. Undulating, sweeping, fluid. Under the uninterrupted, rolling roof of the Heydar Aliyev Center in Baku, Azerbaijan, is a cultural complex of three buildings. The centre hosts exhibitions, concerts, conferences, and other activities, besides having a library and museum. Created by famous Iraqi-British architect Zaha Hadid, the building won the London Design Museum’s Design of the Year award in 2014.
Outside, visitors marvel at the structure from various angles, walk up and down not-so-steep roof slopes, and take selfies. Children play in the terraced plazas and parks in front. On entering, I noticed how natural light pours into the building’s multiple halls, levels, and passages. The fluid wave design twirls and continues inside. A massive staircase from the ground to first floor organically blends into the walls; walls curve to become ceilings.
I saw the Grace Kelly: Princess and Style Icon exhibition and numerous semi-permanent exhibits like the one of miniature models of Baku’s buildings, and individual sculptures from famous artistes. My favourite experience however was the museum display of traditional Azeri musical instruments. As I stepped in front of each displayed instrument, the sound of it playing started off gently from an unobtrusive speaker above my head.
No straight lines: Inside the Heydar Aliyev center In Azerbaijan
27 October 2015
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National Geographic Traveller India published an article titled `No Straight Lines: Inside the Heydar Aliyev Center in Azerbaijan`,AzVision.az reports.
